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Motion design, and animation in general, is something I wouldn't consider to be one of my strengths. Not only due to technical knowledge, but there's something else more related with timing and natural motion that is pretty hard for me to translate into any digital format. Seeing the work that Tom Alex Buch did for Verizon Fiber makes me acknowledge that and admire people that are able to execute with precision. Especially when we are talking about stop motion animation. Check it out, it's simply amazing.
The Brief: Design and figure out how to create animated hand made feeling wire sculpture stop motion for Verizon fiber optics. At Psyop I visualized these motion tests and styleframes within the challenging timeframe of 3 days.
For more information about Tom Alex check out his incredible work at http://www.tomalexbuch.com/
Motion test 1
Motion test 2

Wikipedia defines stop motion as Stop motion an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence. It was and I believe still is used a lot in the movies industry. Karim Rejeb has mastered the technique by doing what all of us did when we were children, playing with toys, however the level of realism of his stop motions is nothing less than amazing.
In this post we bring to you 2 incredible stop motion animations by Karim Rejeb, Dirty Toys and Perfect Holiday.
PERFECT HOLIDAY
Nothing like a good day of surfing.
DIRTY TOYS
Epic motocross with the very famous playmobils.
Nothing like a good day of surfing.
Stills
For more information visit http://karimrejeb-surfart.com/

Video Inspiration is a weekly post where we either feature a specific artist or show a sort of "best of" list of videos we've discovered during the week. Everything here may not be brand new, but we felt it worth sharing with the community. If you have good finds that you'd like to share, please feel free to send your links to nathan@abduzeedo.com with "video inspiration" in the subject line.
This week I've gathered up an awesome collection of videos from around the web. We've got a good mix of animation, commercials, short films, and fun experiments. Hope you enjoy them!

Video Inspiration is a weekly(ish) post where we either feature a specific artist or show a sort of "best of" list of videos we've discovered during the week. Everything here may not be brand new, but we felt it worth sharing with the community. If you have good finds that you'd like to share, please feel free to send your links to nathan@abduzeedo.com with "video inspiration" in the subject line.
This week I'm proud to feature the talent of our many readers world-wide by posting the work they've submitted. So get comfortable, hit play, and leave some encouragement in the comments below for these amazing video artists!

Video Inspiration is a weekly(ish) post where we either feature a specific artist or show a sort of "best of" list of videos we've discovered during the week. Everything here may not be brand new, but we felt it worth sharing with the community. If you have good finds that you'd like to share, please feel free to send your links to nathan@abduzeedo.com with "video inspiration" in the subject line.
This week I've gathered some amazing videos by some incredibly unique artists. Next week, I plan to pick the top five videos submitted by YOU our readers. Stay tuned!

Video Inspiration is a weekly(ish) post where we either feature a specific artist or show a sort of "best of" list of videos we've discovered during the week. Everything here may not be brand new, but we felt it worth sharing with the community. If you have good finds that you'd like to share, please feel free to send your links to nathan@abduzeedo.com with "video inspiration" in the subject line.
This week I'm featuring some incredibly rad videos from around the web. Hope you enjoy them!

Video Inspiration is a weekly(ish) post where we either feature a specific artist or show a sort of "best of" list of videos we've discovered during the week. Everything here may not be brand new, but we felt it worth sharing with the community. If you have good finds that you'd like to share, please feel free to send your links to nathan@abduzeedo.com with "video inspiration" in the subject line.
This week I'm featuring some really cool videos from around the web. We've got a bit of animation, motion graphics, stop motion, short film, and a music video in the mix today.
BONUS! Check out how far we've come!

Video Inspiration is a weekly(ish) post where we either feature a specific artist or show a sort of "best of" list of videos we've discovered during the week. Everything here may not be brand new, but we felt it worth sharing with the community. If you have good finds that you'd like to share, please feel free to send your links to nathan@abduzeedo.com with "video inspiration" in the subject line.
This week I'm featuring an awesome line-up of videos ranging from short documentary to stop motion music videos. Enjoy!
The Shins: The Rifle’s Spiral on Nowness.com.

Video Inspiration is a weekly(ish) post where we either feature a specific artist or show a sort of "best of" list of videos we've discovered during the week. Everything here may not be brand new, but we felt it worth sharing with the community. If you have good finds that you'd like to share, please feel free to send your links to nathan@abduzeedo.com with "video inspiration" in the subject line.
This week I'm featuring a combination of reader submitted works and some rad videos I've found around the web. Enjoy!

Video Inspiration is a weekly(ish) post where we either feature a specific artist or show a sort of "best of" list of videos we've discovered during the week. Everything here may not be brand new, but we felt it worth sharing with the community. If you have good finds that you'd like to share, please feel free to send your links to nathan@abduzeedo.com with "video inspiration" in the subject line.
This week I'm featuring some rad videos I've found around the web. Enjoy!
The Shoes 'Time To Dance' from Somesuch & Co. on Vimeo.
THE SIRENS OF TITAN from Dani Wolf on Vimeo.
Bastiaan Koch - VFX SHOWREEL from Bastiaan Koch on Vimeo.

Video Inspiration is a weekly(ish) post where we either feature a specific artist or show a sort of "best of" list of videos we've discovered during the week. Everything here may not be brand new, but we felt it worth sharing with the community. If you have good finds that you'd like to share, please feel free to send your links to nathan@abduzeedo.com with "video inspiration" in the subject line.
This week I'm featuring some rad videos I've found around the web. Enjoy!
Delilah - Love You So from Cult of Greg on Vimeo.
Hugh Leeman from Agency Charlie on Vimeo.
Chris Moberg - Demo Reel 2011 from Chris Moberg on Vimeo.
Lonely Little Teacup. from Linnea Sterte on Vimeo.
Heartburn from heartburnfilm on Vimeo.

Video Inspiration is a weekly(ish) post where we either feature a specific artist or show a sort of "best of" list of videos we've discovered during the week. Everything here may not be brand new, but we felt it worth sharing with the community. If you have good finds that you'd like to share, please feel free to send your links to nathan@abduzeedo.com with "video inspiration" in the subject line.
I am so excited today to present some great finds from around the web this last week. I really hope you all enjoy them as much as I have. Oh! And Happy Thanksgiving if you're in the states :)
Light from Sunday Paper on Vimeo.
Slippery Slope from The Dø on Vimeo.
Hudson - Against The Grain from Dropbear on Vimeo.
Vésuves from CRCR on Vimeo.
Federico Uribe from Pelicruise Film Group on Vimeo.

Video Inspiration is a weekly(ish) post where we either feature a specific artist or show a sort of "best of" list of videos we've discovered during the week. Everything here may not be brand new, but we felt it worth sharing with the community. If you have good finds that you'd like to share, please feel free to send your links to nathan@abduzeedo.com with "video inspiration" in the subject line.
This week I'm taking a slightly different approach to Video Inspiration. The first three videos were chosen because they're interesting and fun techniques that might spark some ideas. The last two videos were chosen almost entirely because of their thought content. I hope you can make time today to watch them. Enjoy.
The Keyring Stunt Driver from Ryan Kothe on Vimeo.
What goes up from Lacey on Vimeo.
keep drawing from studio shelter on Vimeo.
Bundled, Buried & Behind Closed Doors from Ben Mendelsohn on Vimeo.
Patrician McCarthy: What's Your Innate Gift? from 99% on Vimeo.

Video Inspiration is a weekly(ish) post where we either feature a specific artist or show a sort of "best of" list of videos we've discovered during the week. Everything here may not be brand new, but we felt it worth sharing with the community. If you have good finds that you'd like to share, please feel free to send your links to nathan@abduzeedo.com with "video inspiration" in the subject line.
It's time for another round of reader submitted work! As always, I'm blown away by you guys :)
The Weekend Lake from Matt Wiebe on Vimeo.
Gulp. The world's largest stop-motion animation shot on a Nokia N8. from Nokia HD on Vimeo.
Cartoon Network "Cinemedia" from Nathaniel Costa on Vimeo.
Showreel11 from Fredric Furstenbach on Vimeo.

It's been a few weeks now since I discovered the work of Ryan Kothe on vimeo. The first video of his I watched was this 20 second stop animation called, "Bottlecap Swim Park". Something about it really struck a chord with me. Even though it is extremely short, it's able to communicate a time, place, feeling, and even the suggestion of a story. I knew from experience that getting all of that with very little is no accident, that requires a lot of talent. So I quickly watched the other 6 videos on his channel seeing that each one did something similar and I was more and more impressed with his unique style, incredible knack for stop motion, and his ability to provide a sense of narrative in just a few seconds.
Bottlecap Swim Park from Ryan Kothe on Vimeo.
After poking around on his vimeo page for a bit I found his email address and told him that I'd love to chat about his work and feature him on Abduzeedo. He was all about it and we even tried doing a skype video but that didn't work out too well. Anyways, long story short, the more I got to talk with Ryan the more I liked the guy. He's a real laid back dude that's friendly and easy to get along with. I hope you enjoy our interview below and be sure to show some love in the comments and on his vimeo page!
Q: So, tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from, what do you do?
A: I guess I'm mostly from New Zealand at this point in my life. I was born in South Africa and as a family we moved to New Zealand when I was 14. I finished high school, then studied Art and Design at university and went on from there to build my own life. I currently work in television as an on air graphic designer, and in my spare time I'm heavily involved with all sorts of projects.
C42 Quake from Ryan Kothe on Vimeo.
C42 Waves from Ryan Kothe on Vimeo.
C42 Weaves from Ryan Kothe on Vimeo.
Q: What is your favorite activity for blowing off steam? I believe the last time we chatted you mentioned carpentry and bike riding?
A: Yeah, I ride my bicycle a lot and I'd say having the wind (or rain) in my face has to help. A fair bit of my time consists of wood-working, there's something about being outside cutting and sanding wood that's pretty nice.
Q: When did you start making these amazing stop motion animations and where did the inspiration come from?
A: Hmmm, I guess I started stop motion almost 10 years ago. I used to make little characters and photograph them, they weren't manoeuvrable but I remember wondering how I could make them so that they could be manoeuvred. That possibly lead me to make and create different things, things that were manoeuvrable, and then I just went from there.
Q: All of your pieces have a heavy narrative element to them even if they're just 30 seconds or less. How important is it to you to tell a story with your work or does it just happen naturally?
A: Well, as much as I try to put narrative in my pieces (as it is important to me), sometimes it does just happen, but usually I have an idea of what I'm after and attempt to create the same feeling and mood in each shot/scene. Music is a help with this. Which leads into your next question.
Billy Brown's Coupe from Ryan Kothe on Vimeo.
Q: The choices you make in sound effects or music strike me as very clever and effective, what is your process with choosing and crafting the sound you use?
A: Most of the works I do, music comes in half way. I usually have an idea of what genre/speed/style I'm after, and when the music does come into play, I'll try a few pieces and see/hear what's close and work from there. I also like to include quite a a few gentle and subtle sound effects. When tweaked correctly, they really hammer a piece home.
Little Boats from Ryan Kothe on Vimeo.
Q: What are your main sources of inspiration?
A: I've always liked a good magazine. There was this cafe I used to go to that had stacks of really good ones. I'd flick trough one of them and ideas would just leap out at me. I'd also have to say that just going out and doing things has an effect. Often enough ideas come from very simple experiences. Just a simple walk up the road with my lady love to get a drink or two can bring on a few ideas. There's always something new on that same road we travel everyday.
Worn Out from Ryan Kothe on Vimeo.
Q: Who would you call your biggest artistic influence?
A: Hmmm, I don't really have a huge list of artists that I continue to follow and learn from but I do look at a lot of stuff from all around. Of course there's been the odd person or two in my life that has influenced me. When I was younger I remember making a shelf and my older brother made one too. I liked mine but his was a different design, something I hadn't imagined - It was really cool. I'd say growing up alongside him kept me on a creative edge, but then again I could just say that he's only 16 months cooler than me.
Q: Got any new projects that you're excited about?
A: I do have many projects that I'm very excited about. One is the opening titles to a short film. Second, is a project I came up with last night, and is called 'Night Flowers' - soon to be complete. Both of these will be stop motion works. Thirdly, is a rocking chair I'm in the middle of building - all that is needed now is some sewing and stitching of leather and some upholstery fitting - also, soon to be complete.
Q: What's your workspace look like?
A: Attached are some photos. Dependent on the project, I clear space somewhere.
Q: Where can our readers follow you to see more of your work?
A: The best spot for now would be http://www.behance.net/RyanKothe/frame I recently joined up with them and am very impressed with what they offer and am happy to be on there.
Otherwise my Vimeo page http://www.vimeo.com/ryankothe but this only holds my animated works.
Thank you Ryan so much for this interview, you're a cool guy who makes cool stuff and I wish you the best!

I love to find new projects all over the web. I find really cool experimental videos that try to come up with something that has already been done, but not in a certain way. We've seen tons of stop motions... but I think I've never seen something like this: Still Moving.
I drift, half awake, half asleep. Moving through the city I recall but have never been to.
This film was made using a digital stills camera to create motion. I guess it would be really awesome to see a movie scene, like a dream sequence, using this technique. I would be very innovative. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy it. Cheers! ;)

It's been sometime since we've featured stop motion videos... We really love this technique, which got beautiful pieces of work. "This Is Where We Live" is an animation produced by the Apt Studio for the 4th Estate book.
This is really cool! I hope you guys enjoy this. More informations at design:related. Cheers! ;)
This Is Where We Live from 4th Estate on Vimeo.